Post on 03-Sep-2014
description
Cataloging
Maps(Cartographic
Materials)
Mary Alice OsborneIST616: Information Resources: Organization
and AccessProfessor Barbara H. Kwasnik
Assignment 3: Providing Access to “Nonprint” Documents
November 23, 2010
Cartographic materials include all materials that represent the whole or part of the earth or any celestial body. Some examples include: maps, globes, atlas’, and electronic resources. For this presentation, I have chosen to focus only on the problems involved with cataloging maps.
Chapter 3 of the Anglo-American Cataloging Resource (AACR2R) has the standard information on how to catalog Cartographic Materials, but I have also used “Maps and Related Cartographic Materials,” by Andrew and Larsgaard which gives a more in-depth view of cataloging challenges involving these materials and how to solve them.
Cartographic Materials
No one wanted to catalog the maps….
Why catalog maps? maps are important sources of information cataloging provides more access points than a
geographic index, especially for maps covering more than one area
users are more likely to request (and use resources) that are cataloged
reduces wear (from browsing)Catalogers must be able to make numerous decisions when cataloging maps and they must understand the needs of the users. Access is one of the key factors to keep in mind when cataloging these valuable resources.
Maps can present many problems for
Catalogers These may include:
Dating the map and/or determining what countries and boundaries would be on the map at different time periods
Lack of publishing details or obscure data Who are the authors, or involved parties? Accuracy of spatial data and/or drawn data (cartography) Scale or scales Languages used Country or area names may have changed over time
Where does information come from when cataloging a map?
May be taken from any part of the map, not just from the title page or it’s verso as in a book
Information may be taken from the maps container or other accompanying materials
The Average library user Looks for maps by location or subject, not by
author
Chief Source of Information
Where might the Chief Source of Information be found on a map? Many places…
(Heiser, et.al)
1. Title Problem: Maps quite often provide more than
one title from which to choose, a.k.a. Parallel titles
245 – Maps may have several titles. Take 245 title from actual map. When map is folded there might be an alternate title. This is called a panel title. 246; 1;i Panel title: $a
Choice of title Problem: Sometimes it is difficult to decide what
the main title of a map is, since it can be located anywhere on the “chief source”, and at times is printed more than once, in more than one location, and with different wording (grr!)
(Heiser, et.al)
2. Main Entry Problems
May be a personal name (e.g. the cartographer) May be a corporate name – but only if the corporate body
is responsible for more than just publication or distribution of the map (see AACR2 21.1B2, category f)
May be title (no primary responsible author/entity) Author added entries (both personal and corporate
names) are common “Areas of difference between books and maps are many:
primary identification of maps is with area rather than with authority, and maps are frequently published by a corporate (often a governmental) body. Determination of author, especially for foreign maps, is not always easy; even with U.S.-produced maps, authorship tends to be diffuse.”
(Heiser, et.al)
Author
Who is the Author or cartographer, or group, or corporation that produced the map?
Problems: Statements of Responsibility & Applying Main Entry
Maps may be the work of one person Maps may be the work of a group of people
working for a publishing agency or commercial company
Individuals may not be named
(Heiser, et.al)
Corporate AuthorExamples of maps with corporate authors:
Map with Author Unknown
4. Date of Publication
Problem: How should a Map with no date be cataloged?
5. Publisher and Place of Publication
Problems: Publisher is not mentioned anywhere on the
map Distributor but not publisher is given
6. Date of Publication Problems:
No date of publication Different dates on cover
vs. legend
7. Physical Description
Problems: Margins are not
included in the dimensions of the map
Neat lines, or the line that encloses the detail of the map may not be linear: may have irregular shapes
300 – The physical description consists of the number of items, color (if any), material (if other than paper), mounting (if any), and size.
Neat LineExplanation of map neat lines
Scale
Problem: Map with two different scales
Mathematical dataThe main components of the mathematical data
portion of the catalog record contain: Scale Projection Coordinates
ScaleScale is given on maps in 3 basic formats: Bar scale Verbal scale Representative fraction
034 – Coded cartographic material data – Data must also be entered in textual form in field 255. Scale is always given in a representational fraction. If only the verbal scale is given, it should be translated.
• Representative fraction– 1:6,842,880
• Verbal scale– 108 English Miles to 1
Inch
Bar Scale Example
Cataloging Problems with Scale
There is no scale on the map The scale of a map changes across the face
of the map (for instance, the scale is larger in the middle than along the edges)
More than one scale given
Map with No Scale Given
Problem: Scale changes
The map scale changes with different projections, as seen in this map.
Multiple maps
Problem: Should they be cataloged separately or as a set?
Geographic subject headings
Maps always have a geographic component to the subject(s)
Sometimes the geographic area is the only subject
Sometimes the geographic area is a subdivision of a topical subject
Problem: What if the country or geographic has changed since the map was created?
Example: MARC Fields used in Map
Cataloging
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~dbertuca/maps/cat/sample_record.html Map Cataloger’s Toolbox
Problems cataloging Rare and Early Maps
Cataloging early maps to create standard, consistent records for library catalogs...involves, like all library cataloging, not simply following a set of rules but also making a series of decisions.
Competing, and at times conflicting, factors that affect those decisions: The amount of information content vs. the level of physical detail of the
individual map. The unique features of the individual map vs. matching it with the
appropriate and specific cartobibliographic citation. Application of the general rules for cartographic cataloging vs. special
rules and considerations for early material. Reconciling cataloging rules for early maps with those for rare books. Reconciling the desire for meticulous and detailed citation records with
the desire to get a larger number of existing items into the catalog. Enhancing and clarifying the map cataloging rules, so as to ease and
speed the work of the cataloger vs. allowing adequate flexibility and judgment where needed.
Kovarsky, J. and Barber, M. (2006) Rare Map Cataloging: A Case of Special Considerations. The Portolan. http://www.theprimemeridian.com/RareMapCatPDF.pdf
Troublesome units of measurement on old maps Chain Furlong Heures de marche League Lieue Miles (that aren’t statute) Milliaria Germanica, Hispanica, etc Pole Toise
(Scale on Old Maps Powerpt)
Conclusion Maps are an important part of human history and
heritage. It is crucial that they are preserved and maintained for others to utilize through the ages. Librarians help preserve our culture through cataloging and preserving maps and other cartographic materials for all to utilize.
Cataloging maps is a challenging job that makes these resources available and accessible to users. Because they are so different from traditional books, maps need special considerations and because of this, different fields in their MARC records that allow searching on such elements as: scale, geographical areas, types of maps, etc.
The Map Room at the NY Public Library (Photo: Peter Aaron/Esto)
Annotated Bibliography
Map Cataloging Manual (from Library of Congress): http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/map0001.htm Overview of Map Cataloging, from classification to special
handling. Map Librarian's Toolbox, Cataloging & Processing section. From the
Western Association of Map Libraries (WAML). http://www.waml.org/maptools.html Amazing webliography of resources organized by keyword.
Map Cataloging: Learning the Basics: http://www.stonybrook.edu/libmap/basics.pdf Helpful handouts from a workshop on Map Cataloging
Map Cataloger’s Toolbox: http://library.buffalo.edu/maps/mapresources/map_cat_tools.php Excellent annotated list of resources of anything and everything
pertaining to maps and map cataloging created by David Bartuca. Kovarsky, J. and Barber, M. (2006) Rare Map Cataloging: A Case of
Special Considerations. The Portolanhttp://www.theprimemeridian.com/RareMapCatPDF.pdf Guide for how to catalog rare maps
Texts Cartographic Materials: a manual of interpretation for AACR2. 2nd
ed. (edited by Elizabeth U. Mangan.) American Library Association, 2003. (Available also via Cataloger’s Desktop) Cartographic Materials continues to be the essential companion to
AACR2 for map catalogers. This classic, authoritative guide to cataloging cartographic materials has now been revised and expanded to reflect current AACR2 terminology and additional forms of cartographic materials.
Larsgaard, Mary Lynette. Map Librarianship: an introduction. Libraries Unlimited, 1998. (3rd ed.) Essential for managing any spatial data collection. An extensive
bibliography leads you to many other great resources. This new edition takes us into the digital age, addressing the acquisition, storage, and use of digital data.
Andrew, Paige G. Cataloging Sheet Maps: the basics. Haworth Information Press, 2003. Provides the reader with step-by-step guidelines in applying
cataloging rules and rule interpretations, while creating full-level and accurate bibliographic descriptions for sheet maps.
Powerpoints Scale on Old Maps Powerpt.Yale University
Library Cataloging and Metadata Services. Accessed at: www.library.yale.edu/BeinCatM/map...files/scale_on_oldmaps.ppt
Heiser, N., Wright, L. Introduction to Map Cataloging Powerpoint. The Accidental Map Librarian Workshop. University of Colorado, Boulder Map Library. Accessed at: http://maplibraries.pbworks.com/f/Map%20Cataloging%20Powerpoint.ppt